Moderates power bipartisan agreement to end three-day government shutdown

In the end, it was neither the self-proclaimed dealmaking President Trump nor seasoned congressional leaders who found the path to end the three-day government shutdown.

Rather, the agreement emerged from a fledgling caucus of impassioned moderates from both political parties who — if they aren’t sidelined in days ahead by a partisan resurgence — could grow into a new power center in the Senate.

The House and Senate both approved a compromise yesterday to extend government spending until Feb. 8, clearing the way for government offices to reopen today.

The deal was hammered out by a gang of 30 or so senators calling themselves the Common Sense Caucus, which grew in numbers over the weekend during frantic negotiations to end the standoff.

Now many lawmakers in both parties are hoping the moderate group will continue to exert its influence to break the logjam, even as a few ideological factions were plotting how to stamp it out.

Democrats need to hold the center together to quickly craft an immigration deal to protect “Dreamers,” under criticism from their progressive wing. Liberals complained Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York folded by agreeing to reopen the government without a firm commitment from Republicans to consider a bipartisan bill to help the illegal immigrants. The Senate voted 8118 for the three-week spending bill. The House voted 266-150, with six Republicans and 144 Democrats opposed.